The assistant superintendent (referred to as Catherine in the meeting) told the board Dec. 1 that Merrimack Valley has been selected to receive two national grants from the Public School Districts Opioid Recovery Trust: a district improvement grant and a model-program/best-practices grant. Together the awards are estimated at about $250,000 for this year.

Catherine said the district is the only New Hampshire district chosen in the trust’s first round. The awards will fund activities targeted at students most affected by the opioid crisis, including hiring a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to expand MTSS-B (multi-tiered system of supports — behavioral), purchasing a 14-passenger van to improve access to programs, expanding after-school STEM opportunities, implementing responsive classroom approaches to support social-emotional learning districtwide, and providing professional development and trauma-informed practice training for school counselors.

The assistant superintendent noted grant funds are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing resources and carry mandatory accountability requirements. The district also credited Becky Kennedy for grant-writing work. Staff said some awards could be spent this school year and future funding opportunities may exist.

Next steps: staff will execute grant requirements, track allowable uses and reporting, and bring implementation details to the board as needed.